Siwa to break barriers on ‘DWTS’
Pop star Jojo Siwa will compete as part of the first same-sex pairing on “Dancing With the Stars” for the show’s upcoming 30th season.
Olympic gymnastics champion Suni Lee also is joining the cast, the rest of which will be announced Sept. 8. ABC said Thursday the celebrities will find out which pro dancer they’ll partner with on the season premiere Sept. 20.
Siwa, 18, who has said she identifies as gay and queer, said the same-sex pairing signals to viewers that it’s OK to be your true self.
“I think it breaks a wall that’s never been broken down before,” she told an online gathering of the Television Critics Association. “… It’s really special that now not only do I get to share with the world that you get to love who you love, but also you get to dance with who you want to dance with.”
Lee, 18, will juggle online classes from Auburn University while participating on the Los Angeles-based show.
“I can express myself, which I’m excited for, because in gymnastics you can’t really do that,” Lee said. “… I’m excited to kind of let loose and just have fun.”
Len Goodman is returning to the judging panel this fall after taking last season off, joining Carrie Ann Inaba, Bruno Tonioli and Derek Hough. Host Tyra Banks is also back for her second season.
Stanley of KISS tests positive:
KISS canceled their Thursday show in Pennsylvania after singer Paul Stanley tested positive for COVID-19, the band said on Twitter. The 69-yearold and his bandmates have reportedly been inoculated, but Stanley said he’s still experiencing
some symptoms.
“I had been sick with flu-like symptoms and was tested repeatedly and was negative. As of late this afternoon I tested positive,” he wrote Thursday.
Actor Nader dies: Michael Nader, 76, who carved a career out of playing the dashing husband of two of TV’S most popular soap opera divas, died Monday of cancer.
Nader became a star on the prime-time soap “Dynasty,” playing the third husband of Joan Collin’s Alexis Colby, before moving on to ABC’S daytime drama “All My Children.” His fictional marriage to Susan Lucci’s Erica Kane on “All My Children” is considered one of the best soap opera couplings of all time.
Drummer Malone dies: Drummer Kenny Malone, 83, a prolific session player who played on hits
for Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard and many others, has died. Malone’s former bandmate Dave Pomeroy said he died Thursday after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
Malone is credited on hundreds of records made in Nashville, including albums like Parton’s “Jolene” and Haggard’s “Dreaming My Dreams.” He was known in particular for his hand-drumming technique. Among the other artists he played with were Dobie Gray, Ronnie Milsap and Crystal Gayle.
Aug. 28 birthdays: Actor Sonny Shroyer is 86. Actor David Soul is 78. Singer Wayne Osmond is 70. Actor Jennifer Coolidge is
60. Singer Shania Twain is
56. Actor Jack Black is 52. Actor Jason Priestley is 52. Actor J. August Richards is
48. Singer Leann Rimes is
39. Singer Florence Welch is 35. Actor Quvenzhane Wallis is 18.